Container top label



Jan. 10, 1956 0. G. MAGlLL CONTAINER TOP LABEL Filed Feb. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

OO/V/IAD G. MAG/1L ATTORNEYS 7 Jan. 10, 1956 D. G. MAGILL CONTAINER TOP LABEL Filed Feb. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Jaw

INVEN TOR.

DQ/VALD G. MAG/LL B M 5 a HTTOE/VEKS United States PatentO 2,729,907 CONTAINER Tor LABEL Donald G. Magill Great Neck N. Y., assignor to A merican Can Company, New Yoi'k, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 11, 1953, Serial No. 336,239

Claims. (Cl. 404) The present invention relates to an auxiliary top or top label for containers and has particular reference to such a top or label to be applied to fibre nulk containers having a hingeable friction plug closure sealing a dispensing opening in the top of the container.

When a standard construction of container such as the well known flat top, rectangular, fibre milk contamer having a friction plug closure is made for a large number of dairies requiring different advertising matter or instructions on the top of the containers, the prepara tion and assembling of the tops to the containers during their manufacture is greatly complicated and requires large inventories and storage facilities of finished containers for each dairy which add considerably to the costof the containers. i

The instant invention contemplates overcoming these diificulties by the provision of an auxiliary top d1sk or top label which can be printed by the dairy and readlly assembled to the completed container coming from the container factory after it is filled at the dairy.

An object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary top disk or top label which may be produced as a separate item and may be readily assembled with a standard filled milk container .by the dairy.

Another object is the provision of such an auxiliary top or top label which will readily fit within the recess in the top of the container and may be locked in place by engagement with the regular friction plug closure provided on the container.

Another object is the provision of such an auxiliary top or top label which may not only bear specific indicia, such as advertising matter or instructions but also readily serve as an overcap to cover and protect the friction plug closure as well as the recessed top of the container against contamination.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a sealed milk container having applied thereto a top label or auxiliary top embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container shown in Fig. l with the top label illustrated in exploded relation thereto as before assembly with the container; i

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating how the top label is assembled with the container;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of top label with a protective overcap portion adapted to be secured thereto illustrated in exploded relation to the label;

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a vertical plane indicated by the lines 55 in Fig. 1;

"ice

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a modified form of the auxiliary top or top label shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the container shown in Fig. l, with the modified form of top label shown in Fig. 6 applied thereto, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of a further modified form of the auxiliary top or top label shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1, with the modified form of top label shown in Fig. 4 applied thereto; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a still further modified form of the overcap.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a printed auxiliary top or top label 21 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) for a fibre milk container 22 of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall on Container. Such a container comprises a rectangular shaped body 23 (Fig. 1) having a necked-in top marginal edge portion which terminates in flat flanges 25 overlapping and adhesively securing in place a flat top end member or disk 26 (Figs. 2 and 3). The flanges 25 set off in the top portion of the container a sunken panel or recess 27.

In one corner, the top end member 26 is provided with a circular filling and dispensing opening 31 (see Fig. 5) sealed with a friction plug closure element 32 which is hingedly connected to the top end member 26, as shown in Fig. 2, and which has its plug portion expanded inside the container after the container is filled to secure the friction plug 32 against displacement. Exteriorly of the container, the friction plug 32 is provided with laterally extended flanges 33 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) which seat against the top end member 26 and overlap the adjacent body flanges 25. The friction plug 32 is further provided with a lip 35 which extends over and under the body flanges 25 at the adjacent corner of the container to protect the pouring surfaces against contamination.

The printed auxiliary top or top label 21 (Fig. 2) preferably is a flat substantially rectangular shaped blank of a size adapted to fit snugly within the panel recess 27 in the top of the container. The top face of the blank is provided with any desired printed matter or indicia such as advertising or instruction or the like. At the pouring corner, the label blank is formed with lateral corner extensions 37 which project beyond the rectangular periphery of the blank a distance substantially equal to the top width of the container flanges 25. These extensions 37 extend from the corner, along the diverging edges of the blank for a distance slightly greater than the Width of the friction plug 32 as measured across its flanges 33.

In this corner extension, the label blank is provided with two spaced and parallel diagonal slits 38 which extend inwardly from the outer edge of the two extensions 37, into the blank for substantially the length of the fric- ,tion plug closure element 32. The slits 38 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the unexpanded diameter of the friction plug. These slits 33 set off between them and in the corner of the label a free relatively wide cover tongue 41 and a pair of adjacent relatively narrow retainer tongues 42 disposed one on each side of the cover tongue 41.

In assembling the auxiliary top or top label 21 with the container, the label is positioned diagonally on the top of the container as best shown in Fig. 3, with the cover tongue 41 slightly raised and overlapping the friction plug closure element 32 and the retainer tongues 42 are wedged under the flanges 33 of the friction plug. The label is then pushed toward the friction plug until it seats in the panel recess 27 in the top of the container as "shown in Fig. 1. In this fully applied position of the label, it is snugly disposed in the container panel recess 27 with its top face substantially flush with the top faces of the container flanges 25. Its cover tongue 41 fully overlaps and covers the friction plug 32 and its retainer tongues 42 are disposed under the friction plug flanges 33 with the unexpanded diameter portion ofthe plug located between the retainer, tongues 42 as best shown in, Fig. 5. The label 21 is thus locked in the panel recess 27 against displacement and the friction plug element 32 is protected against contamination.

As a further protection against contamination, the slit corner section of. the label 21 may be protected by an overcap 45 (Fig. '4). This overcap 45 preferably is of triangular shape to fit the corner of. the label and may be made of a transparent material, such asv lassine, cellopha'n-e" or the like. The overcap 4-5 preferably is secured to the label 21 by adhesive. 46 (see Fig. 4') applied to, the, outer face ofthe cover tongue 41 and along a narrow bandv 47 appliedto the label across its outer face at right angles to and adjacent the inner end of the cover tongue 41 as shown in Fig. 4. The overcap, thus attached" to the label is free along the edges of'the retainer tongues 42 and permits of application of the label to the container without interfering with the overcap 45. The overcap thus covers the slits 38 and provides additional protection against contamination of the top of the container (see Fig. 9).

Instead of the one-piece overcap 45 shown in Fig. 4, the slits 38in the label 21 may be covered by individual strip overcaps 48 as shown in Fig. 10. These strip overcaps 48 along three edges are adhesively secured respectively to the cover tongue 41, the adjacent retainer tongue I 42 and the label at. the inner end of the slits, leaving the end of the strip overcap adjacent the outer end of a slit unsecured and free to permit engagement of the retainer tongue 42 under the flange 33 of the friction plug 32 in the same manner as in the label with the one-piece overcap 45.

With such a construction of auxiliary top or top label, either with or without the overcap, an advertising medium for the top of the container is provided as a separate item whi'chrnay be printed independently of the container body,

and is quickly and readily changeable to suit existing conditions, without in any manner interfering with the regular manufacturing processes involved in producing the container as a standard item.

As a modified form of the invention as shown in 'Figs. 6, 7 and 8, retainer tongues 42 of the auxiliary top or top label 21 are formed to produce a wedging action against the sides of they unexpanded diameter portion of the friction plug32, when. the label is in place on the container. For this purpose, the label 21 as shown in Fig. 6. is provided with. a pair of short spaced and converging slits 51 which merge at peaks 52 into a pair of relatively longer spaced and diverging slits 53 thus providin g a pair of spacedchevron shaped slits having their peaks 52 oppositely disposed and spaced apart. The spacing of the peaks 52 is equal to a distance slightly less than the unexpanded diameter portion of the friction plug 32 so that the diverging'portions 53 of the slits engage against the sides of the friction plug at a wedging angle thereto as. shown in Fig. 7, and thus form a lock around the plug, the peaks 52 of the slits being disposed between the corner or lip ofthe plug and the center of its diameter portion to facilitate this wedging action.

The modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 6 with the exception that the chevron shaped slits defining the cover tongue 41 and the retainer tongues 42, merge into sharply converging extension slits 55 the ends of which terminate in spaced relation. With these extension slits 55', the slits 51, 53 which make up the chevron shaped slits may be disposed. at a more acute angle and thereby facilitate or increase the locking feature.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the. form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. Thecombination of a container having a flat recessed top provided with a dispensing opening therein closed with a friction plug having side flanges overlapping the recessed top of the container adjacent said opening, and a fiat label conforming to the shape of and snugly fitting within the recess in the container top, said label having a pair of spaced slits extending inwardly from its margin to define therebetween a cover tongue overlapping and protecting said friction plug, said slits also defining a pair of spaced retainer tongues in said label engageable beneath said friction plug side flanges with the plug disposed between said retainer tongues for holding said label in place within the recessed top of said container.

2. The combination of a. container having a fiat recessed top provided with a dispensing opening therein closed with a friction plug having side fiangesoverlapping the recessed top of the contain adjacent said opening, and a flat label conforming to the shape of and snugly fitting within the recess in the container top, said label having a pair of spaced slits extending inwardly from its margin to define therebetw'ee'n a cover tongue overlapping and protecting said friction plug, said slits further defining a pair of spaced retainer tongues in said label engageable beneath said friction plug side flanges with the plug disposed between saidretainer tongues for holding said label in place within the recessed top of said container, and an overcap secured to said cover tongue and to said label adjacent the inner end of said cover tongue to cover and protect a friction plug having side flanges overlapping the recessed top of the container adjacent said opening, and a flat label conforming to the shape of and snugly fitting within the recess in the container top, said label having a pair of spaced diverging slits extending inwardly from its margin to define therebetween a. covertongue overlapping and protecting said friction plug, said slits further defining a pair of spaced retainer tongues in said label engageable beneath said friction plug side flanges and being wedged against the opposite sides of said plug with the plug dis posed between said retainer tongues for frictionally hold ing said label in place in the recessed top-of said container.

4'. The combination ofa container having a flat rectangular recessed top provided with a dispensing opening in one corner thereon-said opening having a friction closure plug including side flanges overlapping the recessed top of the container adjacent said'opening, and a flat label conforming to the shape of and snugly fitting within the recess in the container top, said label having a pair of spaced slits extending diagonally inwardly from one marginal corner thereof to define therebetween a cover tongue overlappingand protectingsaid friction plug, said slits further defining a pair of spacedretainer tongues in said label extending beneath the side flanges of said friction plug with the plug disposed between said retainer tongues for frictionally' holding said label in place in the recessed top of said container.

5. The combination of acontainer having aflat recessed t'op provided with a dispensing opening closed with a friction plug having side flanges overlapping the recessed top of the container adjacent said opening, and a flat label conforming to the shape of and snugly fitting within the recess in the container, top, said label having a pair of spaced slits extending inwardly from its margin to define therebetween a cover tongue overlapping and protecting venting the aforesaid engagement of said retainer tongues said friction plug, said slits further defining a pair of beneath said friction plug side flanges. spaced retainer tongues in said label engaging beneath the side flanges of said friction plug with the plug disposed References C t d in the l f this patent between said retainer tongues for frictionally holding said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS label in place in the recessed top of said container, and an 1 403 338 k ff I 10 1922 individual elongated overlap disposed over each of said {891,353 g s 2:- 1932 shts and secured to said cover tongue and to the SLIbJaCeIIlZ 2,341,379 Householder Feb. 1944 retainer tongue and to said label adjoining the inner ends of said slits to cover and protect said slits Without pre- 10 2609985 Reld Sept 1952 

